And he immediately urged young players, who can earn considerably more than himself thanks to the billions invested in the game by TV companies in recent years, to ensure the financial advice they receive is sound.

"I hope my story will help young footballers to take responsibility for who they listen to and take advice from," Cole said. "Unfortunately, I didnít realise what was going on until my career was in the latter years and too late for me to turn things around."

Cole, who is set to launch a new east London-based football school - known as the CCTwelve Football Academy - enjoyed a professional career spanning more than 15 years during which he earned a seven-figure salary.

He featured on 293 occasions for West Ham during a career than spanned some eight seasons, scoring 68 times. He also represented England on seven occasions between 2009 and 2010.

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